Horror as woman tortures housemaid to death in Plateau

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1 year 3 months ago #9226 by patrickd



For Miss Margaret Joshua, life was nasty, brutish and short. At 11, she was allegedly tortured to death by Mrs. Nneanmaka Nwachukwu, who took her from her parents as housemaid.

Mrs. Nwachukwu allegedly assaulted the poor girl, who was taken from Kebbi State on account of insecurity to Jos, capital of Plateau State, with a promise to cater for her education, welfare and other needs. But the woman couldn’t fulfilled any of her commitment to the family; rather she took pleasure in beating and assaulting the poor girl. And the girl died.

The act of physical assault came into the public domain on November 14, when a good Nigerian noticed injuries on Margaret. He lodged a complaint at K/Vom police station where Mrs. Nwachukwu was arrested and kept behind bar for beating Margaret and forcing her to sit on boiling water.

The girl was rushed to Mandela Clinic, where she was admitted and later taken to the intensive care unit of the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH) where she was supported immediately with oxygen and later blood transfusion.

But Margaret could not survive the pains; she gave up the ghost few hours after she was brought to JUTH. Her death has attracted attention of the local and international community. The International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) and the National Association of Women Journalists, Plateau State chapter, have come into the matter to ensure justice for Margaret.

The 31-year- old Nwachukwu, who is a mother of two from Enugu State and married to an Imo State indigene, is currently cooling her heels at the criminal investigation department, police headquarters, Jos.

Mrs. Nwachukwu, a microbiologist with National Institute of Trypanomiasis Research Institute Vom, has landed her husband and family in big trouble. She appears to be regretting her violent actions against Margaret, who ran away because of insecurity but was tortured to death by someone she felt came to give her shelter.

The chairperson of FIDA Plateau State chapter, Mrs Obioma Achilefu, and chairperson, Association of Women Journalists Plateau State, Mrs. Nene Dung, addressed a joint press conference to demand justice for late Margaret.

Achilefu said: “The International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), Plateau State branch, is indeed sad to report the cruel and untimely passing on of Margaret Joshua, an 11-years-old girl from Kebbi State.

“The death allegedly followed the grievous physical abuse meted on her by one Nneamaka Nwachukwu. The perpetrator took this displaced girl by reason of the crisis in her state as a house girl. It is no gainsaying that people are awakened to the reality of the evils perpetrated in our society and are calling for justice.”

Achilefu explained that her interaction with the perpetrator, Mrs. Nwachukwu, over the counter revealed that she tortured the poor girl to death on account of masturbation and lesbianism, a reason allegedly used for cover up.

The FIDA chair said: :She said that it was the water she boiled to soak her towel before beating Margaret, that she fell into. She further said that she could not immediately take her to hospital because her husband was not at home and nobody could take care of her two little children.

“She told us that Margaret ran away from home after the incident and that she could not look for her because she needed to wait for 48 hours before searching for her or reporting to the police that she has not seen her house help.

“It was at the station that we knew that it was a good Samaritan that picked Margaret by the side of his house that took her to the police and the hospital. The case was transferred to State CID on November 18, and FIDANS went there and met the assistant commissioner of police who assured us of their commitment to doing the needful in this case.

“We appreciate the Nigerian police for what they have done so far. We hope that the investigation will soon be concluded and the perpetrator prosecuted because the world is listening, watching and waiting for the outcome of this case.

“The case of late Miss Margaret Joshua is one that attracts national lamentation. Her case further proves that the rate of child abuse in Nigeria is at its peak. Almost everyday, there’s a case of child abuse reported in the media or shared on the social media. Enough is enough. We can’t continue to allow these inhumane and animalistic acts to thrive in our society.

“Child abuse is indeed a social ill that must be addressed with actionable commitment otherwise the future of our country will be made up of abused children who grow up to become loveless, emotionally withdrawn and hardened, thereby leading to involvement in all sorts of social vices which often leads to a troubled society.

“We must ensure that this heinous crime is eliminated from our society.

What is before us in Margaret’s case is more than physical abuse. The grievous physical abuse of Margaret has metamorphosed to death. This is sad indeed. Worst still, the so-called father of late Margaret came to Jos on hearing that his daughter was dead. We met him in the office of assistant commissioner of police. He went to court and obtained an affidavit of withdrawal of the case. This is unfortunate when the body is till in the morgue at JUTH.”

FIDA chairperson made recommendations on how the matter should be handled. She said: “Perpetrators must be held responsible and punishment meted out must establish deterrence to others in the society. There are numerous legislations which criminalizes child abuse and the attendant punishment. These should be effectively relied on to hold the perpetrators accountable.

“It is heartwarming that Plateau State has since adopted the Child’s Right Law, Administration of Criminal Justice Law, Violence Against Persons Prohibition Law and the Plateau State Penal Code No.7 2017 Vol. 1. All these laws provide more expansive protection for victim of Child abuse.

“The protection will be evidenced when the force of law is not in the books but in its implementation. The criminal justice system can no longer afford to delay justice for the victims and survivors. The judiciary should make the designated Courts more functional to ensure speedy dispensation of such cases.

“FIDA Plateau State branch is pained that Margaret did not survive to see justice served for her and against the perpetrator. Her death which has gone viral has served as a trigger needed to ensure that we persevere in the pursuit of justice in this case until the perpetrator is held accountable for her animalistic demonstration of wickedness.

“FIDA Plateau remains resolute to securing justice for women and children whose rights are violated in Nigeria through the provision of free legal representation and advocacy for gender friendly reforms of the law.

We will not rest on our oars until there is #justiceforMargaret.”

SOURCE: Vanguard
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